What is the secret to a good doodle groom?

[Renee Bogi]

I do not understand.  EVERYTIME I bring my golden doodle to get groomed she comes back like a big puffy Q-Tip.  I even brought pictures today and explained that i DO NOT want her puffy.  My typed directions also included, "Long Wavy Curls .... NOT PUFFY".  Is it something I am saying wrong.  What do I need to tell the groomer for them to get it right.  I always have to bring her home and rewet her to get rid of the puff.

She is a F1B with long soft wavy curls on her legs and chest.  She has an odd type of corse sort of wavyish curl mixed with some straighter wavy curls on her back.

Thank you for your help.  I sent her with the 2 pictures below with an explanition that the top dog's hair texture/style and the body cut of the larger dog.  Thank you for your help, Renee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Camilla and Darwin]

They always blow dry your dog at the groomers, that is what causes the fluff. They use a powerful dryer that blows them straight and fluffy very quickly.

Honestly though, I don't think you can ask them to not blow dry her. Because they have to wait until the dog is completely dry to do the haircut. If you were to ask them to wait for her to airdry she would be there all day! If you are just taking her to be bathed though, and not cut... you might be able to ask them to just let her air dry.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

The cryptic answer is that you are doing nothing wrong but neither is your groomer. A groomer's training is to table dry and brush at the same time resulting in puffy doodles.

To get "the Look' doodles need to dry naturally. I have never met a groomer that would let a wet dog out of their shop. How about suggesting she scrunch and use a curly dryer. I really don't know what else to say. I started this group so owners and groomers could get on the same page and many have, but there are many groomers out there that don't agree and think I am certifiably crazy. That could be true, but doodles still need to dry naturally. I say if your groomer does a good job otherwise, then just do the spritzing when your dog gets home.

[Renee Bogi]

When I brought her today and the last 2 times, i said that i am growing out a summer trim and only want her to get a (oatmeal) bath (with conditioner) and to only trim her mustach/beard and eye area along with the sanitary.  The groomer insisted that she had to dry her or she will get matted.  I said to let her body air dry or to rewet it at the end.  Is there a special comb/brush that would help or is it just the dryer that is the problem?

[Camilla and Darwin]

I think it is just the blowing that is the problem. Or maybe her combination of brushing/drying. Perhaps you could do as Barb suggested and just ask her to scrunch with her hands as she dries. Or you could continue to wet her down when she gets back.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I find doodles mat easier if you poof them. All the dematting needs to be done before the bath though. A groomer is trained to look after only major mattes before the bath and all minor ones come out during the brush and blow dry.

To do a natural looking doodle you need to spend more time up front dematting and zero at the end for blow drying. Haircuts are another issue. I do scissor cuts before brushing, then brush, even up the cut and wash...no blow dry. If you want to use a clipper, you need to poof and then cut.

This process is what trained groomers say is wrong. It certainly is not what I learned at school, BUT it works. I spent a year or more struggling with my breeding dog's coats before I came up with a plan that was fair to the dog and me.  

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I am assuming the photos you have posted are not showing your baby as a Q-Tip!!!  The second picture looks a lot like my Gracie Doodle but she is a GD F1.  I groom her myself and no matter how hard I would try, I can't get her to poof up.  I think it has to do the the hair dryer blowing. I bathe Gracie and she air drys and I groom her later that day or the next day.  I am pretty sure that the Professional Groomers have a standard that they adhere to when they groom.  They would never think to send a dog out of their shop not looking all poofed up and fluffy with that "finished and polished" look.  If you look at all the dogs in dog shows that have hair that needs grooming, they are all poofed up.  I went to a dog show yesterday and noticed all the poofy dogs.  The little Bichons, the Giant Schnauzers, PGW Dogs and Poodles just to name a few.  They were almost at a point of looking ridiculous but in the eye of the breeder, trainer, person showing the dog, judges and groomers, this is the standard by which they are meant to look like.  Therefore, when you pick up your Doodle they have been blown, back brushed, puffed and fluffed because that is the way the groomer was taught and nothing short of that is acceptable.  There in is the reason you get a Q-Tip!  You might try asking that they do not blow dry your Doodle and explain you like the natural look and that Doodles are not show dogs nor Poodles and are not meant to be poofy and puffy.  Worth a try anyway.  Otherwise you will just have to accept it and spritz your Doodle when you get it home to relax the hair.  Or, look for another groomer who will listen to HOW YOU want your Doodle to look!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I just spritz with water or wet my hands and scrunch the curls back in. It seperates them nicely as well. Both pictures look great though, so not sure if either of these represent the fluffy look you speak of.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

She is so darling.  I think many of us spritz the dog when it gets home.  It kind of puts the hairs back where they belong.  The are puffier from the dryer and comb-out.

[Renee Bogi]

Thank you everyone for all of your suggestions.  To clarify, the pictures are for the look I wanted.  Not the puffy one i keep getting back from the groomer.

[Renee Bogi]

Although, the top one does look like a younger and (smaller version) of my Zoey.  I lost my phone (and all new pictures this morning) These are 2 older pictures of Zoey.

lol... she gets more snuggle time with my husband than I do.

 

after her summer trim

and with her (1 month older) sister  and in need of a groom

[Lynda Kamrath]

I think that the fluffy look comes from blow drying and brushing at the same time.  If the groomer just uses her fingers to separate the hair, you will not get the fluff.  Also, you could use a hair diffuser which is what hair dressers use on permed hair and that will be more of a natural look.  Another thing that seems to help is to use a Shamwow and sqeeze the water out of the hair instead of blowing it dry.

[Shelly Gouvas]

Did you ever try to groom her yourself?Not as hard as you may think.And you can save a ton of money.